Dare to Dream Launches in Rama First Nation
With the generous support of the Law Foundation of Ontario and Casino Rama, the Dare to Dream program launched in Rama First Nation in Ms. Keddy's grade 7/8 class at the Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School on October 20, 2015. The program was led by the exceptional Thomas Milne, associate at Nahwegahbow, Corbiere Genoodmagejig, along with his dedicated team of volunteer lawyers from the local communities.
With the generous support of the Law Foundation of Ontario and Casino Rama, the Dare to Dream program launched in Rama First Nation in Ms. Keddy's grade 7/8 class at the Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School on October 20, 2015. The program was led by the exceptional Thomas Milne, associate at Nahwegahbow, Corbiere Genoodmagejig,along with his dedicated team of volunteer lawyers from the local communities.
On October 29, 2015 Ms. Keddy’s grade 7/8 class received a warm welcome from the Federal Court of Canada and the Honourable Justice Leonard S. Mandamin. Ms. Keddy’s class went on a Field Trip to Rama First Nation’s Community Hall where the Federal Court was receiving Elder Testimony from Mnjikaning (Rama) and Chimnissing (Christian Island) Elders. These proceedings were conducted at Rama’s Community Hall the week of October 26th and were part of a circuit the Federal Court was conducting in order to receive Elder Testimony from the First Nation communities in the court case Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation (Alderville First Nation), et al v. Canada, 2009 FC 994.
After Rama the court moved to Curve Lake First Nation to hear from their Elders. This is a treaty case over which Justice Mandamin is presiding, who is one of a few Aboriginal judges sitting at the appellate court level in Canada. Ms. Keddy’s class was there as part of a ½ day field trip organized by Level’s Dare to Dream Program that allowed the young Anishnabe students to observe important Anishnabe Elders give testimony about a treaty that involved their ancestors and the region’s neighbouring First Nations communities.
Ms. Keddy’s students heard Elder Testimony from Henry Wallace (Wally) Jackson from Christian Island. They witnessed his direct examination from his own lawyers and the cross-examination from Canada’s lawyers. Elder Jackson spoke about his experiences growing up as a young Anishnabek on Christian Island, and in Toronto and Ottawa. For 29 years Mr. Jackson was a Ferry Captain for the ferry that brings people to Christian Island from the mainland. Mr. Jackson was testifying because of his family connection to Chief Henry Jackson who is one of the treaty signatories in the treaty called “Treaty between Her Majesty the King and the Chippewa Indians of Christian Island, Georgia Island and Rama” also known as the Williams Treaty of 1923.
Justice Mandamin officially acknowledged Ms. Keddy’s class on the record when court began session. It was a very special moment for the students and for the court who were pleased the students were in attendance. Immediately after the session had adjourned, Justice Mandamin spoke directly to the students who were observing from the gallery and spoke to them about what was going on in the court room, why the court was in Rama, the roles particular people were playing in the court, and he answered questions from the students about what it’s like to be judge. The court, including the clerks, reporters and lawyers, were pleased to witness this exchange between Justice Mandamin and the young Anishnabe students, which was done over the court microphone for all to hear.
The following week on November 3rd, Justice Mandamin met the students in-person in their classroom at Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School. He presented to the students what it’s like to be a lawyer, presented some aspects of Anishnabek law, pointed out some notable Aboriginal case law they might be interested in, and encouraged them to pursue their dreams. It was clear Justice Mandamin fully appreciated the students’ interest in law and Dare-To-Dream’s coordination and facilitation of this special meeting. The students experienced and heard from an inspirational and influential Aboriginal leader in the field of law and justice who instilled a personal motivation upon the students to pursue a career in justice.
After the Field Trip to the Federal Court sitting, Ms. Keddy’s class returned to the classroom where they have been working hard on their mock trial preparations which was scheduled for December 7th. The students were paired up with legal counsel who volunteered their time to prepare the students with their opening statements, cross examinations, direct examinations, and closing statements. The students have learned many aspects of the court process and more particularly the criminal justice system.
On December 7th the much anticipated mock trial took place. After many hours of preparation and practicing with the program’s volunteers the students embarked in the mock trial which took about an hour and a half. The volunteers where just as anxious (if not more) as the students! All the program volunteers were in attendance as they would not have missed witnessing Dare to Dream at its peak. For the mock trial everything from the court room setting to the students’ robes were provided in order to offer a real life court room experience. The lawyer robes were a source of amusement for the students!
The students gave opening statements, direct and cross-examinations of the four mock witnesses, and closing statements. The jurors deliberated about 10 minutes in a hilarious exchange about the evidence presented through the witnesses and the student lawyer’s arguments. It was a pleasure to see the students take their positions seriously and it was a privilege for the volunteers to see how they were assessing the evidence. It was clear the students understood the scenario and where certain doubt was raised in both the Crown and Defense counsel’s cases. The Students returned with a verdict of “not guilty” which caused an uproar! Who would have thought!?
After the verdict was handed down the students and volunteers reflected on the Mock Trial and the criminal justice process. But no gathering wouldn’t be complete without food and that’s just how everyone ended it! Food and lots of laughs! Overall a successful and a day to remember for the students and volunteers!
The following week after the mock trial the students participated in a Mock Sentencing Circle with local Elder Myrna Watson,which is a model of restorative justice largely borne from Indigenous culture. The principles of restorative justice cover restoration and ensures harmonization and stability for the community as a whole. In a Sentencing Circle the victim and the offender play active roles in resolving the conflict through discussion and negotiation. The offender must make efforts to repair the harm done to the victim, themselves and the community. The community is involved and everyone involved in the circle has the right to speak. The circle’s participants try to reach a consensus on the appropriate and just sentence for the offender. The judge involved then steps back into his/her judicial role and may choose to impose or reject the sentence that the circle has recommended.
This Mock Sentencing Circle involved two circles: an inner circle where all the mock trial actors including the Judge (played by one of the students) were sitting along with Elder Myrna Watson. The outer circle was where the community members were sitting which was played by the program’s volunteers. The first round of speaking was about “Who are you?” and “Why are you participating in the cirlce?”. The second round was about “What is the appropriate sentence for the accused?” The students they were a bit shy at first but became more comfortable with the process in the second round. The students and volunteers got a chance to experience how real sentencing circles function and about the overall process. They produced some interesting suggestions for meting out the appropriate and just punishment which was not very punitive at all, but rather restorative in nature. A Sentencing Circle is a unique and special experience that not many people have witnessed first-hand, so this was a tremendous experience for the students.
Ms. Keddy was a huge help for the students because she has an academic background in restorative justice, and she answered the students’ questions and added some very insightful information. Most importantly, the students had the privilege to have Elder Myrna Watson open the sentencing circle with an Anishnaabe prayer spoken in Anishnabemowin. We are always grateful to have the Aborignial language spoken in the classroom wherever possible. Chi-meegwetch to Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School for a successful Mock Trial and Mock Sentencing Circle!
From start to finish these young Anishnabek students from Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Elementary School were exceptional. With the help of the dedicated voluneteers and organizers (Big Thanks to Level’s Dare to Dream Coordinator for Rama—Thomas Milne!) the Dare-to-Dream Program was a huge success. Level hopes this program instilled in the students the prospect of future career ideas in justice.
Chi-meegwetch to everyone who made the 2015-16 Rama First Nation Dare to Dream program amazing!